Pakistan have announced a pace-heavy lineup for the first Test against England, welcoming back star fast bowler Shaheen Afridi as they aim to bounce back from a disappointing series loss to Bangladesh. Alongside Afridi, Aamir Jamal returns to the squad after recovering from an injury that sidelined him during the previous series.
The opening two Tests will be held in Multan, with the final match set for Rawalpindi. After a tough home series where they were defeated 2-0 by Bangladesh, Pakistan are eager to regain their footing. In contrast, England enter the series with momentum, having enjoyed a successful summer and looking to maintain their dominance on Pakistani soil.
Shan Masood will continue to captain the team, which features three specialist seamers and Abrar Ahmed as the sole spinner in the lineup. Shan confirmed the team’s composition in a press conference ahead of the opening Test, emphasizing the strategic focus on pace.
Alongside Afridi, Naseem Shah returns after being dropped from playing XI for the second Test against Bangladesh. Aamir Jamal, who missed the entire red-ball series due to injury, adds depth to the bowling attack.
Pakistan’s Playing XI:
- Saim Ayub
- Abdullah Shafique
- Shan Masood (c)
- Babar Azam
- Saud Shakeel
- Mohammad Rizwan (wk)
- Salman Ali Agha
- Aamir Jamal
- Shaheen Shah Afridi
- Naseem Shah
- Abrar Ahmed
England’s Playing XI:
- Zak Crawley
- Ben Duckett
- Ollie Pope (c)
- Joe Root
- Harry Brook
- Jamie Smith (wk)
- Chris Woakes
- Gus Atkinson
- Brydon Carse
- Jack Leach
- Shoaib Bashir
With both teams eager for victory, this Test series promises to be a thrilling encounter.
